As legal challenges fail, the UK Prime Minister defends the Rwandan asylum scheme

• No more than seven people are expected on the flight, due to depart later.
• PM said he knew the scheme would attract “plenty of legal challenges”.
• Four men due to be on the first flight failed in their bids; to avoid being removed from the aircraft at the High Court.

Boris Johnson has defended plans to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda; despite the fact that four men scheduled to be on the first trip failed to avoid deportation.

The flight, which is scheduled to leave from a Ministry of Defence location later; is expected to carry no more than seven individuals.

The Prime Minister said he has always anticipated “a slew of legal challenges”; to the programme and that the government may “very well” need to modify the law.

The plan has been criticised by the Church of England; and human rights organisations.

Read More: UK court allows first migrant deportation flight to Rwanda

The Court of Appeal denied a last-ditch bid to cancel the flight; which was then backed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The flight was supposed to transport dozens of people – 37; according to a Home Office source – but legal issues have limited the number of passengers to seven.
On Tuesday, four men were unsuccessful in their attempts to avoid being dismissed from their jobs; before the High Court.

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